User:Dcattell/temp
This is a partial list of famous swords of Chinese legend or mythology. Some of these swords also appear in fiction. There are two main types of sword: jian and dao. Swords with estimated or presumed magical powers or that were especially well-made were designated by the epithet "treasure" (寶), as is the case with "treasure jian" (寶劍) and "treasure dao" (寶刀). The modern Chinese may vary.
Jian
[edit]Jian tend to be blades with two edges, longer than what would be considered to be a dagger. Translations into English are mostly provisional.
| English | Pinyin | Traditional | Simplified | Short description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xuanyuan's Sword | Xuān Yuán jiàn | 軒轅劍 | 轩辕剑 | Xuanyuan is also known as Huangdi, or the Yellow Emperor. Famous for his martial prowess, it is presumed that Huangdi / Xuan Yuan had a special sword. |
| Defeating Evil | Shèngxié | 勝邪 | 胜邪 | One of the legendary swords made by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period for King Zhao of Chu. |
| Han-guang Sword (Keeper of the Light Sword) | Hánguāng jiàn | 含光劍 | 含光剑 | Cheng-ying Sword, Han-guang Sword, and Xiao-lian Sword are associated together. Spring and Autumn period. |
| Tai'a[note 1] | Tài'ē or Tài'ā | 泰阿 (or, 太阿) | 泰阿 (or, 太阿) | One of the legendary swords made for king Goujian of Yue (state) by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period |
| Xiao-lian Sword (Night Exercise Sword) | Xiāoliàn Jiàn | 宵練劍 | 宵练剑 | Chengying Sword, Han-guang Sword, and Xiao-lian Sword are associated together. Spring and Autumn period. |
| Valuable in all Directions (Imperial sword giving bearer arbitrary powers) | Shàngfāngbǎo jiàn | 尚方寶劍 (or, 尚方劍) | 尚方宝剑 (or, 尚方剑) | An ancient treasure sword. |
| Artisanal Display | Gōngbù | 工布 | 工布 | One of the legendary swords made for king Goujian of Yue (state) by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period |
| Squaring the Imperial City | Jùquè | 巨闕 | 巨阙 | One of the legendary swords made by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period for King Zhao of Chu. |
| Gan Jiang-Mo Ye | Gān Jiàng Mò Yé (also, Xié) | 干將莫邪 | 干将莫邪 | Gan Jiang and Mo Ye were a couple who made a pair of much storied swords. |
| Chengying Sword (Bearing Trace Images) | Chéngyǐng Jiàn | 承影劍 | 承影剑 | Chengying Sword, Han-guang Sword, and Xiao-lian Sword are associated together. Spring and Autumn period. |
| Snake-beheader [note 2] | Zhǎnshé jiàn | 斬蛇劒 | 斩蛇剑 | A particularly famous sword. |
| Clearly Black | Zhànlú | 盧卢 | 湛卢 | One of the legendary swords made by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period for King Zhao of Chu. |
| Purity of Thirty Catties [note 3] | Chúnjūn | 純鈞 | 纯钧 | One of the legendary swords made by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period for King Zhao of Chu. |
| Fish Intestines (or, Guts) | Yúcháng | 魚腸 | 鱼肠 | One of the legendary swords made by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period for King Zhao of Chu. |
| Dragon Spring (or, Well, or Pool)[note 4] | Lóngquán Jiàn (or Lóngyuān) | 龍泉劍 (or, 龍淵) | 龙泉剑 (or, 龙渊) | One of the legendary swords made for king Goujian of Yue (state) by Ou Yezi during the Spring and Autumn period |
- ^ Likely the transcription of a non-Chinese name. It has also been translated as "Great Riverbank".
- ^ Likely in the sense of capital punishment: execution by chopping-off heads of "snakes".
- ^ 30 catties are approximately equivalent to just over 18 kilograms, or about 40 pounds avoirdupois.
- ^ There are places named Longquan in Sichuan and Zhejiang.